Padma Lakshmi

I really like to sometimes go into food detox and eat very simply.

From the simple stringing together of lemon garlands for the goddess Durga, to dividing the prasadam or blessed foods for the children first, I came to associate food not only with feminity, but also with purity and divinity.

I think wine is such a big universe that it’s kind of like food – it’s intimidating to a lot of people, myself included.

People always comment about my clothes. They don’t think a fashionable woman can love food and be knowledgeable and actually cook.